Meeting tomorrow will consider requests by WADA and others to broaden Terms of Reference

Although it initially set a deadline of December 31st for witnesses to get in contact in relation to its assessment of the UCI’s role in relation to Lance Armstrong, the USADA investigation and other matters, the UCI Independent Commission has confirmed that it is still inviting people to come forward at this point in time.

“The commission is still very willing to receive evidence from witnesses,” Geoff Steward of Macfarlanes, the legal adviser to the Commission, told VeloNation. “The important thing is that the Independent Commission gets all of the evidence. If witnesses are out there and have information, we’d like to speak to them.”

He confirmed that such information would be treated in confidence. “As laid out in the procedural guidelines that were released before, all evidence is received as confidential and will only be used to the extent that permission has been given by the witness.”

The first of those dates has now been relaxed somewhat, with witnesses invited to contact the commission by either email or post and to provide any relevant information which they may have.

Push to modify terms of reference:

The three commission members will hold a meeting tomorrow (Tuesday) to discuss a range of topics. While Steward was reluctant to go into details, VeloNation understands that one of the subjects on the agenda is the terms of reference laid out by the commission, plus requests by WADA, USADA and also the Change Cycling Now group to see those terms modified.

“WADA has some significant concerns about the commission’s terms of reference and has alerted the lawyers representing the commission of its concerns,” he said then. “If WADA’s concerns cannot be resolved as a result of this meeting, WADA will consider seriously whether it can take part in the commission’s process.”

It is thought that the terms of reference are seen by the three groups as too restrictive in some areas. The Independent Commission members drew up those terms but VeloNation understands that even if they agree that modificiations would help make the investigation a more effective one, the UCI will likely still need to give a green light to such changes.

In that light, tomorrow’s meeting, its outcome and the events which follow may prove important in relation to the future involvement of WADA and others in the process, and ultimately the credibility of the investigation.